Medicare "Advantage" is a scam and AARP should not be trying to sell it

[m892787w]

I am beyond disgusted to have received a direct mail advertisement for
                  "AARP - UHC - MEDICARE ADVANTAGE".

AARP is supposed to support Retired Persons

Medicare "Advantage" is a rotten scam designed to provide inferior health coverage and place you at the mercy of the private insurers. You know, the same scumbags who have been making billions of profits by denying health coverage to everybody under 65? Yeah, they're coming for the over-65 crowd now, and AARP is aiding and abetting.

If AARP was interested in Retired Persons they would be publishing weekly reminders to avoid Medicare "Advantage".

Instead they are trying to profit from it.  As an added bonus they have partnered with the worst of the worst in UHC. 

Shame.

[Barbisme]

 Hi there! have been on pretty good Medicare Advantage plans for 3 years now (Wellcare, Humana, Aetna). I had PPO plans with $0 premiums, and low copays $0 PCP/$15 specialists $0-20 labs. But, each plan doubled the copayments for their renewal, so I’ve switched each year so far to get the lower copayment rates. They all included my doctors in their network.

Have taken advantage of their dental benefits that are way better than any dental insurance because they’re now a flat 100% coverage up to an annual max -one year $2500 and next yr $2K that completely paid for my extractions and new dentures.

But since all offerings are different by state & even by zip code in some areas, I’ve read about some awful denials in other places, it probably depends on where ya live. I had relatives and a former roomie that had a lot of denials and frustrations with UHC, and their copayments were much higher than the others - so I avoided UHC anyway!

[GailL1]

@m892787w 

Since original or traditional Medicare only covers 80% of the outpatient Medicare negotiated amount and has lots of deductibles and copay amounts for inpatient and the beneficiary CANNOT afford the high monthly cost of a Medigap plan to pick up these shared cost - then what would you advise them to do?  

That is the reason that Medicare Advantage plans (Part C of Medicare) came into being because beneficiaries were not able to meet their out of pocket demands of original Medicare.  They are part of the Medicare system and all the rules of play are made by CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services)  CMS gives the plans the right to hold down medical cost by having things like prior authorizations, step therapies, quantity limits, and copays..  In fact, traditional Medicare is initiating a test program in certain states for certain procedures that will require prior authorization in order to start saving money in the traditional program.

Yes, the plans need oversite and I think CMS is now taking this to heart more than any other time - We are losing insurers in this Medicare optional plan choice due to the new rules being imposed by CMS on prior authorizations and adequate networks.  

True, they may not be for everyone but having the choice based on one’s needs - medical, financial and availability is good for all beneficiaries.  

Most people have had private insurance before going on Medicare and they are very use to some of these rules since these cost savings methods were used under their employer plans or even ACA plans.

CMS is issuing rules so that any prior approval methods is done seamlessly and quicker - 

BTW, Part D Plans for Medicare - the Prescription Drug Plan - is done basically the same way - these insurers use the rules issued by CMS to negotiate the best deal they can on drugs that go on their formulary - 

Those who are under 65 on Medicare because of a disability have few protections in our Medicare law (Social Security law - in fact, in many states, they have NO choice but to pick a Medicare Advantage as their method of getting their Medicare because many states do not allow those under 65 access to a Medigap plan and if they do allow for it - it is many times cost prohibitive.  I know one disabled person who has Medicare that lives close to me - they are pretty well off so they have picked a Medigap plan G at a monthly cost of $ 875 a month and that’s just the Medigap plan, they still also pay the Part B premium.

You don’t have to pick a Medicare Advantage plan but do not deny those who want them or have no other option because of financial reasons - I know plenty of beneficiaries that are very pleased with their Medicare Advantage plan and have had lots of high cost medical procedures,  

Give them the choice 

[m892787w]

Yes, some people get their bills covered through Medicare Advantage some of the time.

Medicare Advantage motto:  "Do you feel lucky today?"

.

Yes, the premiums for real Medicare are too high. This was engineered in by the same corrupt b****rds who designed the Medicare "Advantage" scam to destroy medicare and kill senior citizens. "Let's mess them up with premiums so they can be driven to the private insurers". The REAL remedy, of course, is to vote the b****rds out . . . but of course the ones who shill for the insurance companies are well-funded.
.

My advice to people who can't afford Medigap? You're gambling either way, if you skip Medigap or if you buy "Advantage", but buying "Advantage" means you're supporting the bad guys as well.



.